Addressing the annual Conference of the National Unionist Association on
Friday, December 15th, Mr. Bonar Law surveyed the political situation. He dealt first with Mr. Lloyd George's criticism that though the Unionists " apparently had a majority that majority in reality did not exist." lie was surprised that Mr. Lloyd George should have " thought it worth while to start that ancient game." It only showed that freedom from great responsibility made it possible for Mr. Lloyd George to enjoy life again on a simple plane. When four or five parties were fighting it was obvious that no party could expect a more logical majority under our present electoral system than the Government had obtained. He regarded it as a very satisfactory majority, and he had not the slightest hesitation in saying that the Government would use it to pass measures which they thought in the interests of the country. He did not assert that the Government had a monopoly of " first-class brains " ; but they had men of " good judgment " and of " first-class loyalty." Nevertheless, he thought it necessary to point out that as the Govern- ment necessarily had a smaller majority than was enjoyed by the Coalition, Unionist Members of Parliament should regard it as a duty to attend the divisions regularly.
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